Low power mode for portable computer system

ABSTRACT

A computer system is configured to operate in a normal mode and in a reduced power mode. The normal mode utilizes a primary processor, which operates using a primary operating system. When system power is depleted to a defined level, the primary processor is shut down and certain operations are taken over by a low-power, secondary processor that operates using a secondary operating system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/532,863, filed Sep. 18, 2006, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/718,152 filed Sep. 15, 2005 each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system and method for managing power useful for battery-powered (or other limited-powered) computers.

2. Description of the Related Art

Computers of various types, including laptop computers, desktop computers, handheld computers and other computers, typically take significant time to “boot up”. In addition, portable computers frequently run out of power when in use. This may interrupt a critical task or render the computer inoperable until another source of power can be found or the batter can be recharged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a system and method for managing power useful for battery-powered (or other limited-powered) computers, such as laptop computers, electronic organizers, and the like. According to the disclosure, a battery-powered computer is equipped with a dual operating system for power conservation. Specifically, the computer is equipped with a primary operating system for normal, full-power operation. A secondary operating system permits continued use of the data entry capabilities of the computer during reduced-power operation, without the need to wait for the primary operating system to boot and without the need for sufficient power to run the primary operating system.

The term “laptop” in this disclosure can also be used to describe other portable computers powered by batteries, fuel cells, or other power sources having a limited capacity.

According to the invention, the computer utilizes normal power management techniques, shutting down before all battery life is discharged. However, a small reserve is maintained in the battery. This reserve is used to power the secondary operating system contained in ROM, flash memory, or some other persistent, low-power memory device. The secondary operating system can run on the primary processor and RAM, but in the preferred embodiment runs on an entirely separate, very low-power processor and RAM that can be booted without powering on the primary processor. The secondary operating system uses either a dedicated, tiny liquid crystal or similar small one or two line low power display, although other displays and even all or a portion of the primary laptop display can be used. In the preferred method, a small LCD display is mounted above the keyboard and may optionally be backlit. In another method, the system does not use a display at all to conserve power. An alternative method uses sound clicks to indicate key presses. Only those portions of the computing device necessary to the functioning of the secondary operating system need to be powered up, permitting significant power savings.

The secondary operating system permits entry of data (via an external keyboard, the attached laptop keyboard, or other device such as a drawing stylus) for storage in a secondary memory device that is persistent without use of power (such as flash memory). Entry of data can also be made by microphone, video camera or other suitable input device. Output of data can be made the same way, such as by speaker, video display, etc.

The low-power secondary memory device is accessible from the main operating system as well, and data entered using the low power secondary operating system can be imported to applications running in the primary operating system. Optionally, data from the primary operating system can be exported to the secondary memory device as well. In addition, the secondary memory device may be removable and readable from other devices.

A more complete understanding of the invention will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings, which will first be described briefly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an exemplary system according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an exemplary system according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an exemplary system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a system 100 comprising a portable computer 102 powered by a battery (or other limited source, such as a fuel cell) 104. Computer 102 comprises a battery monitor 106 that monitors battery power, connected to a primary processor 108 and a secondary processor 110. In an embodiment of the invention, processors 108 and 110 are separate devices. In an alternative embodiment, the secondary processor comprises a portion of the primary processor that can be operated separately. In both embodiments, the secondary processor can be booted up and operated independently, which should occur when the battery reaches a defined depletion level, e.g., 75% depleted.

Primary processor 108 is connected to and operable with all normal computer and peripheral components, for example, keyboard 112, pointer 114, graphic display screen 116, network card 118, optical disk drive 120, magnetic storage device 122, audio output device 124 and a first RAM bank 126. When the primary processor is operating, battery power is depleted at a certain rate (“primary rate”) depending on the power requirements of the processor and other computer components. Secondary processor 110 is connected to and operable with a subset of computer components, for example, keyboard 112 and audio output device 124. In addition, secondary processor 110 may be connected to and operable with certain low-power components, for example low-power RAM bank 127 and low-power LCD screen 128. When the primary processors and its interoperable components are shut down and the secondary processor and its interoperable components are operating, battery power is depleted at a certain rate (“secondary rate”) depending on the power requirements of the processor and its interoperable components. In an embodiment of the invention, the system 100 is designed such that the secondary rate is much less than the primary rate, for example, 50% less, 75% less, or 90% less.

A switch 130 may be used to control power distribution. For example, in a first operating mode, power is distributed to the primary processor 108 and its connected components. In a second operating mode, power is distributed to secondary processor 110 and its connected components. Switch 130 may be controlled by secondary processor 110 during both normal (primary) and low-power (secondary) operating modes. In the alternative, switch 130 may be controlled by an independent device, such as a low-power sensor and logic chip (not shown), which may be integrated with switch 130 in a single device. The low-power sensor may comprise, for example, a voltage or current sensor. When the sensed voltage or current falls to a predefined threshold, battery power may be presumed to have fallen to a predetermined level of remaining storage capacity.

The usefulness of the system 100 may be greatly extended by switching to the secondary processor when battery power reaches a predetermined level. For example, the predetermined level may be set at 20% of remaining battery power. At the primary power rate, a battery may have a life of, for example, two hours. If the secondary power rate is one-fifth of the primary rate (80% less), the computer may be operated for 96 minutes from 100% battery reserves to 20%, i.e., 80% times 120 minutes. Then, it may be operated for an additional 120 minutes in the low-power mode until the battery is completely depleted. It should be apparent that many other scenarios for extending computer time are possible, depending on the predetermined battery reserve level, the secondary rate, and the primary rate. Such variables may be made user-selectable, to the extent possible. For example, a user may select certain components to be used, thereby varying the secondary power rate, or may set the battery threshold at which power is switched to the secondary processor.

The primary processor and secondary processor may utilize separate operating systems stored in separate memories. When the primary processor is shutting down, certain machine state data may be transferred to a RAM bank or other memory device associated with the secondary processor. Other machine state data may be discarded, preferably after first ensuring that all data of interest to the user is stored in a non-volatile memory so that it can be recovered later. The secondary processor may follow a similar procedure when it is shutting down. Conversely, when either the primary or secondary processors are booting up, each can be configured to make appropriate use of any non-volatile data stored by its counterpart processor. The secondary processor may also make use of certain machine state or other data that may be provided by the primary processor.

Machine state or user data may be stored by the secondary processor in a secondary memory device 132, which may comprise a low-power device. The low-power secondary memory device 132 may be accessible from the main operating system as well. Thus, data entered using the low power secondary operating system can be imported to applications running in the primary operating system. Optionally, data from the primary operating system can be exported to the secondary memory device as well. Memory device 132 may be used for this purpose, also. In addition, the secondary memory device may be removable and readable from other devices. For example, memory 132 may be incorporated into a package (not shown) including a USB or other interface for plugging into a socket of the computer system. Thus, even when a battery is about to become discharged to an inoperable level, the user may ensure that critical data is stored on memory 132 for use on an alternative computer system.

Various tasks may be performed in low-power mode, for example, receiving or responding to text messages, reviewing text documents, or any other task that requires substantially less power than tasks performed during a normal operating mode. The secondary operating system should permit entry of user data (via an external keyboard, the attached laptop keyboard, or other device such as a drawing stylus) for storage in a secondary memory device 132 that is persistent without use of power (such as flash memory). Entry of data may also be made by microphone, video camera or other suitable input device.

Optionally, the secondary processor 110 and its interoperable components may be switched on and off as desired, i.e., booted up or shut down when desired to force operation of the system in the low-power mode. Likewise, the system may be forced to operate in normal mode until battery power is completely depleted, or for any other purpose.

Current gas plasma or LCD displays may consume power at a rate that is higher than desirable. However, it may still be desirable to provide a visual display during reduced-power operation. Accordingly, in an embodiment of the invention as shown by FIG. 2, a computer system 200 may comprise a primary processor 202 operably associated with a first display screen 204, such as, for example, an LCD or gas plasma display screen. Normally all of screen 204 will be illuminated when the computer system is in a normal operating mode. System 200 may also comprise a secondary processor 206 operably associated with a secondary display 208. The secondary display 208 should be configured to consume substantially less power than the primary display 204. For example, the secondary display may be substantially smaller in area, or utilize a technology that requires less power to operate. In an embodiment of the invention, display 208 may comprise a dedicated, tiny liquid crystal or similar small one or two line low power display. For example, a small LCD display 208 may be mounted above the keyboard and may optionally be backlit.

In the alternative, as shown in FIG. 3, a computer system 300 may be configured with the primary processor 302 operably associated with a display screen 304. Screen 304 and system 300 may be configured such that substantially the entirety of display screen 304 is utilized for providing a visual display, when system 300 is in normal mode. When operating in reduced-power mode using secondary processor 306, a reduced region 308 may be utilized for providing a visually display, with the remainder 310 blanked. Screen 304 should be selected so that less or no power is needed to maintain a region 310 of the screen in a blank state while utilizing another region 308 to provide a visual display.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of the within system have been achieved. It should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, an embodiment in which the primary and secondary processors are located on separate devices has been illustrated, but it should be apparent that the invention may be implemented using primary and secondary devices located in different areas or components of a single device. The invention is defined by the appended claims. 

1. A computing device comprising: a first processor that consumes power at a first rate, wherein the first processor is configured to execute a first operating system; a second processor that consumes power at a second rate lower than the first rate, wherein the second processor is configured to execute a second operating system that has fewer capabilities than the first operating system; and a switch configured to determine when a power level of a power source is less than a predetermined power level and, in response to the determining, initiate distribution of power away from the first processor so that user interactions with the first operating system executing on the first processor are no longer possible and initiating distribution of power to the second processor so that user interactions with the second operating system executing on the second processor are possible and the power use of the computing device moves from the first rate to the second rate.
 2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a logic chip.
 3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the primary processor transfers selected machine state data to a memory device associated with the secondary processor when power is distributed to the secondary processor instead of the primary processor.
 4. A computer-implemented method of managing a computing device, comprising: monitoring a power level of a power source that provides power to a primary processor, wherein the primary processor consumes power at a first rate and is configured to execute a first operating system; determining when a power level of the power source is less than a primary power level; distributing power away from the first processor in response to said determining such that user interactions with the first operating system executing on the first processor are no longer possible; and distributing power to a second processor in response to said determining, wherein the second processor consumes power at a second rate and is configured to execute a second operating system that has fewer capabilities than the first operating system, and wherein said distributing power to the second processor enables user interactions with the second operating system executing on the second processor. 